Gaia Home Leadership
Visionaries
Meet the people who have helped shape and develop the Gaia Home vision and who are working to make it become reality to fill the gap in end-of-life care services that currently exist in our community.
Gaia Home Board Members and Executive Director
As the highest leadership body of Gaia Home, the Board of Directors guides the organization in an ethical and passionate manner, inspiring all involved to live its mission, vision, and values while ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management.
The executive director is Gaia Home’s visionary management leader, who through servant leadership principles, inspires the organization’s team, volunteers, and community to make the vision become reality.
Jeff Ubl
I was very close to my grandmother and spent time with her during her end-of-life journey. Little did I know how that time would impact me later. I remember, more than anything, being conflicted between being sad and enjoying my time with her. As time has passed, I have forgotten the sadness....
Jeff Ubl, Board Chair and Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
I was very close to my grandmother and spent time with her during her end-of-life journey.
Little did I know how that time would impact me later. I remember, more than anything, being conflicted between being sad and enjoying my time with her. As time has passed, I have forgotten the sadness and remember the time we had together. Those memories are precious to me, and I want that same experience for others.
There are many ways to give to our community in a meaningful way but giving back when people are at their most vulnerable, with the most need, creates the greatest impact. Friends and neighbors have been there for me when I was in need. Being involved with Gaia Home provides me the opportunity to return that support, not only for those close to me, but to my entire community.
As an architect, I’ve been able to contribute by gathering the ideas from community focus groups to create the plans that will help us take the next steps in changing end-of-life care in our region. The process of seeing people who have never met come together, share their experiences and insights, and envision this dream has impacted me deeply. It is a wonderful gift for the Bismarck-Mandan region.
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives....
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member, and Gaia Home Advisory Group Member
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives.
When I was eight, my grandpa passed away. It was my first encounter with the end-of-life that I can recall. We lived at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and my maternal grandma and grandpa lived in Milwaukee, WI, roughly 10 hours away. One day my grandparents called to say grandpa’s cancer is worse, and they decided to have hospice come into the home. As a young child, I didn’t understand what it all meant or how hard it was for grandma to be grandpa’s primary caregiver. However, I knew it was hard for my mom as I sensed she felt sad she couldn’t be with my grandparents to assist.
The last week of grandpa’s life my mom was in Milwaukee to help with his care. The day before he passed, my mom called my dad and said we needed to get there. We were in the car within the hour and made it to Milwaukee in time. I’ll never forget seeing grandpa sleeping in his hospital bed in the den where he used to watch old Western movies. I had a chance to hold his hand and say goodbye.
The next day he was surrounded by his wife, his three children and their spouses when he took his last breath. I remember afterwards seeing both sadness and relief in the adults’ faces because the hard caretaking tasks were done, and grandpa was in a better place.
My mom was younger than me when she cared for her father during his end-of-life. Luckily my parents are still alive and healthy. At the same time, as an only child, I can’t help but think about how difficult it will be when the time comes for me to experience the journey with them.
That’s why I want to ensure Gaia Home becomes a reality. I think about all the people whose hearts could better handle being the daughter, son, husband, wife, brother, or sister, during their loved ones’ final days, versus being the caregiver. I think about the person who is passing, and how they may feel more comfortable and dignified if their loved one wasn’t providing the tough care duties. I think about those people who don’t have friends or family who can help near the end. I think about the families who would prefer to not have the final moments in their own home because of the sad memories it can leave behind.
Lastly, I think about Gaia Home’s mission to “…nurture the human spirit through the end-of-life journey,” and I know the experiences people will have will help heal their hearts so they can live on and honor their loved one’s memory.
Kristie Rants
I grew up in Reeder, ND but now call Bismarck my home. I am a senior manager at Eide Bailly LLP and enjoy volunteering for events and organizations that better our community, such as Boxers & Brews, Bucks for Bras, United Way, and the sports and church programs that my kids have been...
Kristie Rants, Board Treasurer
I grew up in Reeder, ND but now call Bismarck my home. I am a senior manager at Eide Bailly LLP and enjoy volunteering for events and organizations that better our community, such as Boxers & Brews, Bucks for Bras, United Way, and the sports and church programs that my kids have been involved in. I was also very active and on the board for the Bismarck Mandan Relay for Life.
Gaia Home drew me in because of the experience I had with my mom’s end-of-life journey. I found it to be very difficult as we did not have any type of hospice care available. We did have some terrific home health assistance, but they were 23 miles away, and of course were not always available. We are grateful to have had amazing friends and family that were extremely helpful to us. At the same time, I had to assist my mom with many things that I was definitely not trained to do. Asking me for that help did not give my mom the dignity she deserved at her end of life.
I believe the environment Gaia Home intends to build would have made for a better end of life experience for my mom. We could have all been at her side, treasuring the precious time together, and she would have had continuous professional care that would have given her comfort, peace, and dignity.
Julie Schwab
Throughout my 30+ years in the health care industry, I have served as a RN, administrator, consultant, executive director of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), palliative care clinic administrator, and past Director of Medical Services for the ND Department of Human Services....
Julie Schwab, Board Secretary and Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
Throughout my 30+ years in the health care industry, I have served as a RN, administrator, consultant, executive director of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), palliative care clinic administrator, and past Director of Medical Services for the ND Department of Human Services. My current focus has been in care coordination, population health, palliative care, operational management, and community-based services work now as a consultant focusing on those areas.
I am originally from Minot, ND, but Bismarck has been my home for the past 20+ years. I became involved with Gaia Home as I am very passionate about end-of-life choices and care, and I want to see these types of options be available to people in our area and region.
Both of my parents and sister–in–law were on hospice care at the end of their lives. I was very fortunate to be able to provide care in a homey environment, like what Gaia Home will offer. The end-of-life journeys for both of my parents and sister-in-law were beautiful experiences. Although, there was terrible illness involved, they had the opportunity to be surrounded by and cared for by loved ones. We also had healthcare professionals involved, but we were able to all be present in an environment that best fit our needs as a family.
These types of options, where family and friends can join in their loved one’s final journey, if that is their choice, should be available. Gaia Home will offer families that opportunity, giving them a place that suits their needs, and a chance to have what can, and should be, a beautiful experience.
Denise Dockter-Kambeitz
I’m Denise Dockter-Kambeitz and North Dakota has been my home for most of my life. I have met many wonderful people in the Bismarck area, and I believe supporting Gaia Home is a great way to give back to the community....
Denise Dockter-Kambeitz, Board of Director
I’m Denise Dockter-Kambeitz and North Dakota has been my home for most of my life. I have met many wonderful people in the Bismarck area, and I believe supporting Gaia Home is a great way to give back to the community.
I am a Certified Public Accountant, and over the years I have served as the Chief Financial Officer for a real estate company, been the Controller at a local grocery chain, and have worked in the tax area of a regional accounting firm. I have also helped start a couple of nonprofits. I am the North Dakota affiliate director of “I Support the Girls” which collects and distributes essential items to organizations helping those experiencing hardship and in need.
Gaia Home is an organization I support because I believe worrying about the logistics of how and where to care for a loved one leading up to death can be a burden. Having a place like Gaia Home will reduce this by giving families time and energy to truly focus on the person while professionals focus on the caregiving needs.
I have great empathy for those going through these situations. My parents were primarily tasked with communication and direction of my grandmother’s care at a nursing home. She passed on March 16, 2018. I believe it would have been much more accommodating to have family visit in a homey, residential facility like Gaia Home during her last days. That is what Gaia Home will be – a home away from home alternative to the limited options families have for end-of-life care.
Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Members
The purpose of the committee is to successfully implement the Gaia Giving Campaign plan to ensure we raise funds to build, operate and endow Gaia Home so we can provide a dignified and quality final journey for as many families as we can.
Renee Daffinrud
Bismarck has always been my home. I was born and raised here. My husband Mike and I raised our two adult children, Dan and MiKayla, in this community. For the past 35+ years I have been in banking, with the last four years being at First International Bank and Trust....
Renee Daffinrud, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
Bismarck has always been my home. I was born and raised here. My husband Mike and I raised our two adult children, Dan and MiKayla, in this community. For the past 35+ years I have been in banking, with the last four years being at First International Bank and Trust.
Being active in the community I call home is something I am passionate about and I serve on the Stewardship and Foundation Boards at Zion Lutheran Church, the Advisory Board at the Bismarck Cancer Center, and the Executive Committee for the American Heart Association “Go Red For Women” event.
I felt called to be involved with Gaia Home because I want to ensure others in our community can have a better experience than the one I had with my father’s journey.
My Dad had just retired so my parents decided to take a trip in their RV to the West coast to see family. He was not feeling the best, but they decided to take the once-in-a-lifetime adventure. My Dad was sicker than they thought, so they came home early, and he was admitted into the hospital to run tests. Advanced stages of cancer were revealed, and he was put on hospice care in the hospital where he passed six weeks later.
My Dad loved his family and worked so hard to provide for us. In his last days all he wanted was to go home. We were not able to grant his final wish as my parents’ home was too small, and a hospital bed would not fit. To this day it saddens me that we were not able to let him be in his home where he lived for 50+ years with his family by his side during his end-of-life journey. Instead, he was in a hospital bed alone when he passed away.
Gaia Home will be able to offer other families what my family was not able to have – a homey alternative to hospitalization for my father. I want to contribute to the growth and success of Gaia Home, and I invite the community to join us in this effort.
Chad Wachter
At my innermost core, I am a problem solver who thrives on challenges. My lifelong passion has been real estate, growing up in a family who has been in the real estate business in the Bismarck-Mandan area for more than 100 years....
Chad Wachter, Gaia Home Inaugural Board Chair, Gaia Home Advisory Group Member, and Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
At my innermost core, I am a problem solver who thrives on challenges. My lifelong passion has been real estate, growing up in a family who has been in the real estate business in the Bismarck-Mandan area for more than 100 years.
Today, I find that passion converging with a great need in our region – the need for family and friends to say good-bye to a loved one in a home-like setting with access to healthcare professionals. For some, they live in a home where this is possible. But Gaia Home answers the call to help those who may live in rural areas, in a smaller home that doesn’t allow space for the medical equipment that is required, or for those who choose to die away from their home setting for personal reasons.
Building Gaia Home is a challenge I welcome. I am driven knowing the thousands of people who will benefit from its presence in the years to come. Its legacy will change the lives of all who enter its doors, allowing them a beautiful, well-appointed, and comfortable place to share their memories, give their final hugs and start their journey without the loved one’s daily presence. I can’t think of a more noble and worthy cause.
Vern Dosch
Hello. My name is Vern Dosch, and I’m newly retired from 45 years in the rural electric industry, the last 35 of which were at National Information Solutions Cooperative in Mandan, North Dakota. My idea of retirement is to take the skills, abilities, lessons learned and network that I built, and put all to use for worthwhile projects in our community. This is why...
Vern Dosch, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member and Operations Advisory Group Member
Hello. My name is Vern Dosch, and I’m newly retired from 45 years in the rural electric industry, the last 35 of which were at National Information Solutions Cooperative in Mandan, North Dakota. My idea of retirement is to take the skills, abilities, lessons learned and network that I built, and put all to use for worthwhile projects in our community. This is why I joined the Gaia Home effort.
I believe our medical community has done an outstanding job of providing care and services through the continuum of life. We have strong hospice providers in our community. The missing piece in hospice care right now is assuring all families that their loved one will have a comfortable and peaceful place to spend the final days of their life.
Recently, I experienced two incredible losses in my life – my mother-in-law and my mother. My mother-in-law was in a care facility during COVID that was on lockdown, and she was unable to have her family and friends surround her in the final days of her life. This was a very difficult time for our family to not be able to say goodbye in the way in which we wanted. On the other hand, my mother was transferred to hospice in the last six days of her life in a private home. We were very fortunate to have access to this home; but I know many people who do not have that luxury. Her final days were filled with her siblings, children, and her grandchildren. There was laughter and tears and much healing during those hours, and my mom died a very peaceful death. It was truly a blessing. Gaia Home will have the ability to provide a safe, private, and comfortable environment for those receiving hospice care.
Melanie Carvell
The last days with my beloved mother were emotional, trying and upsetting. We had to make difficult decisions with short notice and limited guidance. I had a troubling time in the months that followed because I wished it could have been more comfortable, peaceful and supportive for...
Melanie Carvell, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
The last days with my beloved mother were emotional, trying and upsetting. We had to make difficult decisions with short notice and limited guidance. I had a troubling time in the months that followed because I wished it could have been more comfortable, peaceful and supportive for my mom.
My hope is that others saying goodbye to loved ones won’t face what my family and I dealt with. Having Gaia Home as an end-of-life option available in Bismarck would be a wonderful investment in improving our community. Making Gaia Home a reality will provide an experience rooted in kindness, compassion, and dignity for families and their loved ones.
As a physical therapist I’ve worked with people in all stages of the life cycle. The value of human dignity in every phase of life, particularly the end of one’s life, cannot be emphasized enough. Every person deserves care and grace, and Gaia Home will help families care for their loved ones in a respectful and compassionate way.
Gary P. Miller
In 1981 I began a career of over 30 years at St. Alexius Medical Center, in Bismarck. I served for 20 years as the CFO and 6 years as the CEO of the system before retiring. I am deeply committed to our community and served on numerous boards throughout the years including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, University of Mary,...
Gary P. Miller, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
In 1981 I began a career of over 30 years at St. Alexius Medical Center, in Bismarck. I served for 20 years as the CFO and 6 years as the CEO of the system before retiring. I am deeply committed to our community and served on numerous boards throughout the years including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, University of Mary, Bismarck State College, NCR National Users Group, North Dakota Healthcare Financial Management Association, North Dakota Hospital Association, Bismarck YMCA, Bismarck Cancer Center, Bismarck United Way, Hettinger Clinic Network Board, Garrison Hospital Board, Spirit of Life Church, and the Star Lake Property Owners Association.
During my time at St. Alexius, I was blessed to serve with many people committed to healing and life care. I was able to witness the extraordinary impact both healing and death had on families and care givers. While acute care inpatient hospitals do their very best to deal with end-of-life care, they are not constructed for the end-of-life needs for the person, family, or their friends. Acute care rooms are small and designed to handle IV pumps, monitoring devices, and other equipment. Too many times I witnessed spouses, children, friends, and visitors sleeping on air mattresses in the hallway to be close to a dying loved one. I have seen families crammed into rooms and overflowing into the hallway so they could be part of final goodbyes.
Nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietary associates, spiritual care givers, and housekeepers are special people. They truly do “care.” They do their best to see all are given the best transition possible. Unfortunately, acute care is not structured for end-of-life needs. We can do better with the physical environment and end of life experiences for families.
We should do better. We will do better. That is why I am involved in bringing Gaia Home to the Bismarck-Mandan community.
Judy Maslowski
Hello, I am Judy Maslowski. I serve on the Gaia Giving Campaign Committee because I believe the end-of-life transition should be as easy as possible, both for the dying person and their family....
Judy Maslowski, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
Hello, I am Judy Maslowski. I serve on the Gaia Giving Campaign Committee because I believe the end-of-life transition should be as easy as possible, both for the dying person and their family.
I was a registered nurse for 35 years. I started out as a staff nurse on a surgical unit, did a year of rural nursing in Hazen, and then was a nurse in the ICU at what is now Sanford Health for three years. I began teaching at the Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing at age 26. I then completed my master’s degree during the next several years while raising three children. Upon completion of my master’s, I taught nursing at University of Mary for 20 years. In 2007, I became a licensed Realtor while continuing to teach and then became full-time in real estate in 2011. Creating a comforting sense of home is something that I’m passionate about on a personal and professional level. The combination of this passion with my medical background and my family’s experiences with end-of-life care has led me to strongly support the Gaia Home mission and vision.
As a nurse I worked with many patients at the end of their lives. I also experienced the deaths of many family members and friends who chose to receive hospice care. My sister died of ovarian cancer, and she decided to have in-home hospice. My dad was also dying of cancer at that time, and he passed away seven weeks after my sister. He chose hospice in the hospital setting as he knew how difficult it would be for mom, a retired nurse, to care for him at home after the recent loss of my sister. My husband’s mother and father also utilized hospice, one in the hospital and one at home.
I have seen how difficult it is for family to provide care for their loved ones when the in-home hospice providers are not on duty. I see a need for a hospice setting that is staffed and takes the burden of care from the family. Many family members feel guilty if they are not able to emotionally or physically be the caregiver for their loved ones. The Gaia Home concept will relieve that burden of care and allow family members to provide the emotional support needed for their loved ones while professional hospice staff provide caregiving services. Many people have difficulty remaining in the home where their loved one died, so to have a setting like the Gaia Home, a welcoming, neutral setting with staff will remove that obstacle.
Scott Russell
My name is Scott Russell, and I am fortunate to serve as the fifth CEO & President of Cloverdale Foods Company, which is a fourth generation, family-owned meat company based in Mandan, North Dakota. Since 1915, Cloverdale has crafted premium, bold flavors which bring lasting memories...
Scott Russell, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
My name is Scott Russell, and I am fortunate to serve as the fifth CEO & President of Cloverdale Foods Company, which is a fourth generation, family-owned meat company based in Mandan, North Dakota. Since 1915, Cloverdale has crafted premium, bold flavors which bring lasting memories to families.
Our family and our company have a long-held belief that we have a responsibility to be stewards to the communities we serve. Whether that be sporting venue sponsorships, product donations to worthy causes, or other ways to help, we are connected to and wish to support the quality of life in our community.
Personally, I believe we must find those causes in which we are passionate about, and when I initially learned about Gaia Home, there was something that told me to lean into the concept. As I did, I quickly recognized there exists an unmet need for end-of-life care services in our community, which likely hasn’t been made available because of certain challenges and obstacles. I naturally look for those sorts of opportunities as they somehow fill my bucket, and I can see how Gaia Home can be a solution for many.
Our father passed over a decade ago from pancreatic cancer. Between hospitalizations and home healthcare, we made him as comfortable as possible. Our dad chose to be hospitalized in his final days. If Gaia Home were available back then, I can’t say whether or not he would have chosen it. However, I do know Gaia Home will allow families going forward an option to consider as they experience the final season; and to me, helping to provide that option brings me happiness as I know I’m honoring my family’s and Cloverdale’s desire to better our community and the lives of our neighbors.
Jeff Ubl, Board Chair
I was very close to my grandmother and spent time with her during her end-of-life journey. Little did I know how that time would impact me later. I remember, more than anything, being conflicted between being sad and enjoying my time with her. As time has passed, I have forgotten the sadness....
Jeff Ubl, Board Chair and Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
I was very close to my grandmother and spent time with her during her end-of-life journey. Little did I know how that time would impact me later. I remember, more than anything, being conflicted between being sad and enjoying my time with her. As time has passed, I have forgotten the sadness and remember the time we had together. Those memories are precious to me, and I want that same experience for others.
There are many ways to give to our community in a meaningful way but giving back when people are at their most vulnerable, with the most need, creates the greatest impact. Friends and neighbors have been there for me when I was in need. Being involved with Gaia Home provides me the opportunity to return that support, not only for those close to me, but to my entire community.
As an architect, I’ve been able to contribute by gathering the ideas from community focus groups to create the plans that will help us take the next steps in changing end-of-life care in our region. The process of seeing people who have never met come together, share their experiences and insights, and envision this dream has impacted me deeply. It is a wonderful gift for the Bismarck-Mandan region.
Tom Weigel
I’m involved in the Gaia Home project for personal and professional reasons. I strongly believe in the need for healing and resolution at the end of our lives. Having been in funeral service for 60 years, I have witnessed so many times where this simply did not happen. The unique setting Gaia Home will provide will be the perfect environment for a meaningful leave-taking to occur...
Tom Weigel, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
I’m involved in the Gaia Home project for personal and professional reasons. I strongly believe in the need for healing and resolution at the end of our lives. Having been in funeral service for 60 years, I have witnessed so many times where this simply did not happen. The unique setting Gaia Home will provide will be the perfect environment for a meaningful leave-taking to occur.
My passion for making Gaia Home a reality comes from a deep desire to have a place that accommodates the healing and resolution process. My personal experience with the end-of-life journey was when my wife, Kathy, died of cancer. I regret not fully being able achieve total closure. Making time with family, along with some guidance for those present to partake in a conversation where each person can speak one-on-one with the dying or in a group dialogue can help achieve positive closure. This is so important for the living, as they continue their lives after their loved ones have passed.
I was born in Napoleon, North Dakota. After high school I attended the University of Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mortuary Science. Post graduation, I lived in Minneapolis and Saint Paul for 10 years. During that time, Kathy and I got married. In 1969, I had the opportunity to buy a funeral home in Mandan. As a business owner, community involvement was a natural which included the Mandan Chamber, Jaycees, and the Mandan Rotary. My involvement with Gaia Home is another way for me to make a positive impact on the community.
Jody VonRueden-Estenson
Originally from Bismarck, I now reside in Minneapolis, MN, with my husband and two children. Even though I no longer live in Bismarck, it’s my childhood memories of my father, John E. Von Rueden, and the experience my family had with his end-of-life journey that called me to be part of the Gaia Home effort....
Jody VonRueden-Estenson, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
Originally from Bismarck, I now reside in Minneapolis, MN, with my husband and two children. Even though I no longer live in Bismarck, it’s my childhood memories of my father, John E. Von Rueden, and the experience my family had with his end-of-life journey that called me to be part of the Gaia Home effort.
My father was a dynamic figure in my life. He was my best friend whom I would call three or four times a day. He set an example of greatly caring for people and his community, which he was highly involved with through many volunteer efforts. His main aim was to bring joy to people, and he was at his best when other people were having fun.
In 2007 my father suffered several months of illness. Coordinating and providing the needed hospice care was difficult; and being in a comfortable, homey setting wasn’t an option. My father eventually passed away in a hospital, and I knew there had to be a better way for families who were going through the passing of a loved one.
Shortly after my father left this world, there was a group of people in the community who started to discuss establishing a place that could help. It didn’t come to fruition back then. However, when I heard about Gaia Home and its effort to provide families a familiar, comfortable place where they live, gather, and focus on being families as their loved one receives compassionate, end-of-life care, I knew I had to be part of it.
My career has centered around marketing and communications, helping businesses and individuals express their unique and differentiating factors. In honor of my father, I’m supporting and sharing Gaia Home’s distinctive vision to ensure it is available for my family when it comes time to say “goodbye” to my mother and other dear family friends and so that it’s accessible for all of the wonderful families I know and love in my hometown who want a new option for their end-of-life season, one in which they can treasure their precious time together in peace.
Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Members
The purpose of the operations advisory group is to help establish viable partnerships, guidelines, policies, and offerings, and to provide recommendations to the board of directors on serviceable functions to ensure a successful operational establishment of Gaia Home.
Mylynn Tufte
Hello, my name is Mylynn Tufte. As a nurse, healthcare leader and former North Dakota State Health Officer, I’ve spent my professional career ...
Mylynn Tufte, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
Hello, my name is Mylynn Tufte. As a nurse, healthcare leader and former North Dakota State Health Officer, I’ve spent my professional career to improve the health and well-being of others. I currently lead the Population Health Practice at Optum Advisory Services where we provide strategic healthcare consulting to payers, 
providers, and public sector clients across the care continuum from wellness to end-of-life and palliative care programs. In addition to serving other non-profit organizations, I’m president-elect of the North Dakota Nurses Association and I serve on the Board of LifeSource, our region’s organ, tissue, and eye donation organization.
My first experiences with the end-of life journey started as an ICU nurse. I saw firsthand what happened when one chose a path of hospice, and the peace it gave the patient and families. They felt a level of control and a sense that they would be able to rest, “not hurt,” and “be heard.”
There are many reasons why I’m passionate about making Gaia Home a reality. Chief among them is the urgent need for residential end-of-life care in our community. When I think about my family and others that could benefit from Gaia Home, I feel the urgency to act. Gaia Home will give families the support they need to carry out their loved ones wishes with care, dignity, and compassion. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the scenario that played out for my dad. At the age of 71, after dealing with five years of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, he died by suicide. Alone.
If we can support individuals and families at end-of-life, this is a true gift that gives comfort and peace.
R.J. Pathroff
I am an attorney who represents companies and individuals in all aspects of business disputes. My clients come from a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, real estate,...
R.J. Pathroff, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
I am an attorney who represents companies and individuals in all aspects of business disputes. My clients come from a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, environmental, and insurance. I have developed a particular emphasis in problems dealing with construction and real estate. I represent contractors, property owners, subcontractors, developers, and tenants during projects and in court and arbitration proceedings.
With this background, I became involved with Gaia Home early in the planning stages. I was immediately inspired by the vision of the Gaia Home Advisory Board members to provide our community with a place where people entering the final stages of life will experience comfort and be treated with dignity and respect.
When my close family member entered the final stages of her life after a long illness, I was lucky to have another close family member who was a medical professional to provide her with end-of-life care in her home. I realized through that experience that providing end-of-life care on my own would have been very stressful and would have interrupted my ability to be mentally present in her final days. I’ve since realized that there are many reasons a person may not have an ideal place to receive hospice care in the final stage of their life. Gaia Home promises to be that place.
Rosanne Schmidt
With more than 40 years as a professional nurse in our community, serving in many roles, including leadership roles at St. Alexius Medical Center, and through my own personal experiences, I realize there are opportunities to...
Rosanne Schmidt, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
With more than 40 years as a professional nurse in our community, serving in many roles, including leadership roles at St. Alexius Medical Center, and through my own personal experiences, I realize there are opportunities to expand alternatives when it comes to end-of-life care.
As a graduate of the University of Mary, servant leadership is a part of my DNA. One of my career highlights was opening the first hospital-based skilled nursing unit in the state at St. Alexius. At the time, this was a relatively new care concept in our country, and it proves that North Dakota has the capacity to be on the leading edge for providing alternative levels of care in different settings.
From a personal side, when my father experienced hospice at end-of-life, it was apparent that the caregiving role falls onto the family members’ shoulders. As a nurse with years of experience in acute and long-term care, I logically knew this was the case. However, as my sister and I provided the bulk of care for my father during his final days, the stark reality of this fact was much different from an emotional perspective.
My knowledge with tertiary care and long-term care has been a blessing. Yet, I realize there are many families who struggle with providing a peaceful end of life in an appropriate setting for their beloved family member. This is the beauty of Gaia Home and the role it can play in our community. An innovative solution for end-of-life care, I believe in Gaia Home’s mission, and I'm grateful for the community support for the implementation of this important project.
Vern Dosch
Hello. My name is Vern Dosch, and I’m newly retired from 45 years in the rural electric industry, the last 35 of which were at National Information Solutions Cooperative in Mandan, North Dakota....
Vern Dosch, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member and Operations Advisory Group Member
Hello. My name is Vern Dosch, and I’m newly retired from 45 years in the rural electric industry, the last 35 of which were at National Information Solutions Cooperative in Mandan, North Dakota. My idea of retirement is to take the skills, abilities, lessons learned and network that I built, and put all to use for worthwhile projects in our community. This is why I joined the Gaia Home effort.
I believe our medical community has done an outstanding job of providing care and services through the continuum of life. We have strong hospice providers in our community. The missing piece in hospice care right now is assuring all families that their loved one will have a comfortable and peaceful place to spend the final days of their life.
Recently, I experienced two incredible losses in my life – my mother-in-law and my mother. My mother-in-law was in a care facility during COVID that was on lockdown, and she was unable to have her family and friends surround her in the final days of her life. This was a very difficult time for our family to not be able to say goodbye in the way in which we wanted. On the other hand, my mother was transferred to hospice in the last six days of her life in a private home. We were very fortunate to have access to this home; but I know many people who do not have that luxury. Her final days were filled with her siblings, children, and her grandchildren. There was laughter and tears and much healing during those hours, and my mom died a very peaceful death. It was truly a blessing. Gaia Home will have the ability to provide a safe, private, and comfortable environment for those receiving hospice care.
Jeff Essler
I was born and raised in North Dakota, and I've spent most of my life in Bismarck after graduating from Mary College (now known as the University of Mary). I've enjoyed...
Jeff Essler, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
I was born and raised in North Dakota, and I've spent most of my life in Bismarck after graduating from Mary College (now known as the University of Mary). I've enjoyed a long and varied career and community involvement that includes business administration, technology, project management, web development and internet marketing, entrepreneurship, fundraising and volunteer relations and recruitment, human services, basic care and skilled nursing healthcare administration, and banking. I enjoy youth shotgun shooting sports instruction, and I’ve served on the chamber of commerce board of directors and church administration.
Recently, I was seeking to volunteer at a new organization that might benefit from my experience, and I connected with Gaia Home because of its mission.
I’ve had dear friends passing away far too young and saying final goodbyes to family members. Most importantly, I shared in both of my parents’ final seasons, and the journey my siblings and I took with them up to their passing. I faced the struggle of long-term care, memory care, family disagreements, family love, sadness, and celebration. I believe there can be a good recipe for passing with dignity and being a part of the death and dying process to ensure a most positive experience. There is need for a place of peace with people who can help you embrace the end of life in a beautiful way.
I consider Gaia Home a very worthwhile effort for the community – especially knowing how many lives will be impacted by the caring contained within its homey walls, and where people will never forget that most precious time and how they felt when a loved one passes away.
Julie Schwab
Throughout my 30+ years in the health care industry, I have served as a RN, administrator, consultant, executive director of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), palliative care clinic administrator, and past Director of Medical Services for the ND Department of Human Services....
Julie Schwab, Board Secretary and Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
Throughout my 30+ years in the health care industry, I have served as a RN, administrator, consultant, executive director of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), palliative care clinic administrator, and past Director of Medical Services for the ND Department of Human Services. My current focus has been in care coordination, population health, palliative care, operational management, and community-based services work now as a consultant focusing on those areas.
I am originally from Minot, ND, but Bismarck has been my home for the past 20+ years. I became involved with Gaia Home as I am very passionate about end-of-life choices and care, and I want to see these types of options be available to people in our area and region.
Both of my parents and sister–in–law were on hospice care at the end of their lives. I was very fortunate to be able to provide care in a homey environment, like what Gaia Home will offer. The end-of-life journeys for both of my parents and sister-in-law were beautiful experiences. Although, there was terrible illness involved, they had the opportunity to be surrounded by and cared for by loved ones. We also had healthcare professionals involved, but we were able to all be present in an environment that best fit our needs as a family.
These types of options, where family and friends can join in their loved one’s final journey, if that is their choice, should be available. Gaia Home will offer families that opportunity, giving them a place that suits their needs, and a chance to have what can, and should be, a beautiful experience.
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives....
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member, and Gaia Home Advisory Group Member
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives.
When I was eight, my grandpa passed away. It was my first encounter with the end-of-life that I can recall. We lived at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and my maternal grandma and grandpa lived in Milwaukee, WI, roughly 10 hours away. One day my grandparents called to say grandpa’s cancer is worse, and they decided to have hospice come into the home. As a young child, I didn’t understand what it all meant or how hard it was for grandma to be grandpa’s primary caregiver. However, I knew it was hard for my mom as I sensed she felt sad she couldn’t be with my grandparents to assist.
The last week of grandpa’s life my mom was in Milwaukee to help with his care. The day before he passed, my mom called my dad and said we needed to get there. We were in the car within the hour and made it to Milwaukee in time. I’ll never forget seeing grandpa sleeping in his hospital bed in the den where he used to watch old Western movies. I had a chance to hold his hand and say goodbye.
The next day he was surrounded by his wife, his three children and their spouses when he took his last breath. I remember afterwards seeing both sadness and relief in the adults’ faces because the hard caretaking tasks were done, and grandpa was in a better place.
My mom was younger than me when she cared for her father during his end-of-life. Luckily my parents are still alive and healthy. At the same time, as an only child, I can’t help but think about how difficult it will be when the time comes for me to experience the journey with them.
That’s why I want to ensure Gaia Home becomes a reality. I think about all the people whose hearts could better handle being the daughter, son, husband, wife, brother, or sister, during their loved ones’ final days, versus being the caregiver. I think about the person who is passing, and how they may feel more comfortable and dignified if their loved one wasn’t providing the tough care duties. I think about those people who don’t have friends or family who can help near the end. I think about the families who would prefer to not have the final moments in their own home because of the sad memories it can leave behind.
Lastly, I think about Gaia Home’s mission to “…nurture the human spirit through the end-of-life journey,” and I know the experiences people will have will help heal their hearts so they can live on and honor their loved one’s memory.
Gaia Home Advisory Group Members
In 2019, this group of individuals came together on their own as they recognized a gap in end-of-life care in our community and they began discussing potential solutions. With their support they helped craft our vision, mission, and our name that will carry us throughout the journey.
Terry Rockstad, Gaia Home Founding Benefactor
My life has always been centered in Bismarck. I worked more than 40 years in the Rockstad family business, Dan’s Super Market, Inc., retiring as board chairman in 2015....
Terry Rockstad, Gaia Home Founding Benefactor and Gaia Home Advisory Group Member
My life has always been centered in Bismarck. I worked more than 40 years in the Rockstad family business, Dan’s Super Market, Inc., retiring as board chairman in 2015. Throughout that time, and to this day, I have been an advocate for our community and state, serving for organizations that advance its health, culture, and people, ensuring a better way of life. Some organizations include the Great Plains Food Bank, Bismarck’s soup kitchen, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, and Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce. In addition, I've served on the Governor’s Commission to Study the Expansion of the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum and am a former president of the North Dakota Historical Society.
Today, I am proud to be an early founder of Gaia Home. My conversations with Kilee Harmon about a facility that supports a better end-of-life experience for all date back to 2013. I have had many friends of all ages who have experienced hospice care. For some, it was a blessing to be able to provide hospice in their loved-one’s home. However, I have seen first-hand many friends suffer from the stress and anxiety of becoming a loved one’s primary caregiver; and the grief they experience each time they pass by the room in which their loved one died. I also know many people who struggle from the guilt of not being able to honor their loved one’s wish of being in a home during end of life, and eventually pass in an institutional setting surrounded by strangers instead of family. This is especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. And finally, my heart breaks for those who simply do not have a family member or friend who is capable to provide the care needed when end of life is near.
That is why I’m so excited Gaia Home is progressing. It will provide something that is totally new to the Bismarck-Mandan area – specialized end-of-life care for loved ones and their families in private townhomes that offer a homey alternative to caregiving in one’s own home or going to a non-home setting.
In researching about hospice and end-of-life care, I have learned this main fact: it is not the last step before dying—it is about giving individuals and families the ability to have dignity in the last phases of life. Gaia Home will offer that opportunity, making the final season more comfortable and easier for families and their loved ones. I invite you to join us in making Gaia Home become reality for our community.
R.J. Pathroff
I am an attorney who represents companies and individuals in all aspects of business disputes. My clients come from a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, real estate,...
R.J. Pathroff, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member
I am an attorney who represents companies and individuals in all aspects of business disputes. My clients come from a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, environmental, and insurance. I have developed a particular emphasis in problems dealing with construction and real estate. I represent contractors, property owners, subcontractors, developers, and tenants during projects and in court and arbitration proceedings.
With this background, I became involved with Gaia Home early in the planning stages. I was immediately inspired by the vision of the Gaia Home Advisory Board members to provide our community with a place where people entering the final stages of life will experience comfort and be treated with dignity and respect.
When my close family member entered the final stages of her life after a long illness, I was lucky to have another close family member who was a medical professional to provide her with end-of-life care in her home. I realized through that experience that providing end-of-life care on my own would have been very stressful and would have interrupted my ability to be mentally present in her final days. I’ve since realized that there are many reasons a person may not have an ideal place to receive hospice care in the final stage of their life. Gaia Home promises to be that place.
Chad Wachter, Gaia Home Inaugural Board Chair
At my innermost core, I am a problem solver who thrives on challenges. My lifelong passion has been real estate, growing up in a family who has been in the real estate business in the Bismarck-Mandan area for more than 100 years....
Chad Wachter, Gaia Home Inaugural Board Chair, Gaia Home Advisory Group Member, and Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member
At my innermost core, I am a problem solver who thrives on challenges. My lifelong passion has been real estate, growing up in a family who has been in the real estate business in the Bismarck-Mandan area for more than 100 years.
Today, I find that passion converging with a great need in our region – the need for family and friends to say good-bye to a loved one in a home-like setting with access to healthcare professionals. For some, they live in a home where this is possible. But Gaia Home answers the call to help those who may live in rural areas, in a smaller home that doesn’t allow space for the medical equipment that is required, or for those who choose to die away from their home setting for personal reasons.
Building Gaia Home is a challenge I welcome. I am driven knowing the thousands of people who will benefit from its presence in the years to come. Its legacy will change the lives of all who enter its doors, allowing them a beautiful, well-appointed, and comfortable place to share their memories, give their final hugs and start their journey without the loved one’s daily presence. I can’t think of a more noble and worthy cause.
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives....
Kilee Harmon, Executive Director, Gaia Giving Campaign Committee Member, Gaia Home Operations Advisory Group Member, and Gaia Home Advisory Group Member
My name is Kilee Harmon, and I am humbled to serve as the Executive Director of Gaia Home. I want to bring Gaia Home to fruition because I know the services and experiences it will provide will greatly impact many people as they go through the most vulnerable time of their lives.
When I was eight, my grandpa passed away. It was my first encounter with the end-of-life that I can recall. We lived at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and my maternal grandma and grandpa lived in Milwaukee, WI, roughly 10 hours away. One day my grandparents called to say grandpa’s cancer is worse, and they decided to have hospice come into the home. As a young child, I didn’t understand what it all meant or how hard it was for grandma to be grandpa’s primary caregiver. However, I knew it was hard for my mom as I sensed she felt sad she couldn’t be with my grandparents to assist.
The last week of grandpa’s life my mom was in Milwaukee to help with his care. The day before he passed, my mom called my dad and said we needed to get there. We were in the car within the hour and made it to Milwaukee in time. I’ll never forget seeing grandpa sleeping in his hospital bed in the den where he used to watch old Western movies. I had a chance to hold his hand and say goodbye.
The next day he was surrounded by his wife, his three children and their spouses when he took his last breath. I remember afterwards seeing both sadness and relief in the adults’ faces because the hard caretaking tasks were done, and grandpa was in a better place.
My mom was younger than me when she cared for her father during his end-of-life. Luckily my parents are still alive and healthy. At the same time, as an only child, I can’t help but think about how difficult it will be when the time comes for me to experience the journey with them.
That’s why I want to ensure Gaia Home becomes a reality. I think about all the people whose hearts could better handle being the daughter, son, husband, wife, brother, or sister, during their loved ones’ final days, versus being the caregiver. I think about the person who is passing, and how they may feel more comfortable and dignified if their loved one wasn’t providing the tough care duties. I think about those people who don’t have friends or family who can help near the end. I think about the families who would prefer to not have the final moments in their own home because of the sad memories it can leave behind.
Lastly, I think about Gaia Home’s mission to “…nurture the human spirit through the end-of-life journey,” and I know the experiences people will have will help heal their hearts so they can live on and honor their loved one’s memory.
Denise Dockter-Kambeitz
I’m Denise Dockter-Kambeitz and North Dakota has been my home for most of my life. I have met many wonderful people in the Bismarck area, and I believe supporting Gaia Home is a great way to give back to the community....
Denise Dockter-Kambeitz, Board of Director
I’m Denise Dockter-Kambeitz and North Dakota has been my home for most of my life. I have met many wonderful people in the Bismarck area, and I believe supporting Gaia Home is a great way to give back to the community.
I am a Certified Public Accountant, and over the years I have served as the Chief Financial Officer for a real estate company, been the Controller at a local grocery chain, and have worked in the tax area of a regional accounting firm. I have also helped start a couple of nonprofits. I am the North Dakota affiliate director of “I Support the Girls” which collects and distributes essential items to organizations helping those experiencing hardship and in need.
Gaia Home is an organization I support because I believe worrying about the logistics of how and where to care for a loved one leading up to death can be a burden. Having a place like Gaia Home will reduce this by giving families time and energy to truly focus on the person while professionals focus on the caregiving needs.
I have great empathy for those going through these situations. My parents were primarily tasked with communication and direction of my grandmother’s care at a nursing home. She passed on March 16, 2018. I believe it would have been much more accommodating to have family visit in a homey, residential facility like Gaia Home during her last days. That is what Gaia Home will be – a home away from home alternative to the limited options families have for end-of-life care.
SuAnn Olson
Hello, I am SuAnn Olson. I am a CPA with Eide Bailly, with an expertise in complex partnerships and corporate clients. I work with clients to address retirement and wealth preservation planning, and I advise start-up companies on choice of entity and compensation planning, as well as accounting and...
SuAnn Olson, Gaia Home Advisory Group Member
Hello, I am SuAnn Olson. I am a CPA with Eide Bailly, with an expertise in complex partnerships and corporate clients. I work with clients to address retirement and wealth preservation planning, and I advise start-up companies on choice of entity and compensation planning, as well as accounting and tax issues.
One day, a client asked me if I would consider serving on an advisory board for what would become a new non-profit looking to solve a gap in end-of-life care in our community. Reflecting on my father’s end-of-life journey, I said, “yes,” and joined the inaugural advisory board for Gaia Home.
I learned there are limited home options for those who may be receiving hospice care or who qualify for hospice care but for various reasons their own home isn’t suitable or accessible. Or they may lack family caregivers who can assist with the daily care needs of their loved ones.
Mindful of these gaps in care, the advisory board made much progress in helping to craft the vision, mission, and name, and I’m excited to see Gaia Home moving forward as it will change the way end-of-life care is offered in our community.
